By: Kemo Kanyi
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, and the National Youth Council has handed a CinemArena grant to 25 young entrepreneurs across the country.
The CinemArena project seeks to empower youth and at-risk communities, including those suffering from high unemployment, low income, and poverty.
The awarding ceremony was held at the Sir Dawda KairabaJawara International Conference Centre.
The project is under the framework of “Socio-Economic Empowerment” to address irregular migration. The grant is awarded to 25 youth-owned viable businesses and start-ups. These include 13 women entrepreneurs.
Emmanuel Murwisi, International Organisation for Migration Chief of Mission to The Gambia, said the project sends out educational messages, targeting communities to mitigate irregular migration.
“The current project, which has informative and empowerment components, aims to ensure broad dissemination of educational messages to engage and empower local communities, returning migrants, potential migrants, and diaspora through their active involvement and inclusion in capacity building and training initiatives. This actively involves media as change agents to disseminate the right information on irregular migration risks and socio-economic opportunities available,” he outlined
Basiru Secka, the representative of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment, tasked beneficiaries to be job creators through the grants awarded and advised them against using them for unintended purposes.
“We will be very happy if we make a visit to your various businesses and find that you’re employing other young prospects. Whoever you employ will reduce the unemployment burden rate on the government. This is what we are yearning for. Please, do not use the grant for any other purposes that were not stipulated in the grant criteria during your application. There were 400 applications forwarded, but you are the lucky applicants after a thorough screening,” he stated.
Kaddijatou Badjie, a beneficiary, advised her fellow successful awardees to utilize the opportunity for the project’s sustainability.